The 57th annual Scranton St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place this Saturday, March 10th.

A tradition since 1962, this Lackawanna County parade has gained recognition as the second largest parade (following that which is held in Savannah, GA) in the nation with over 12,000 participants.

Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral will begin at 10 a.m. The Brian P. Kelly Memorial two-mile footrace will take place shortly thereafter at 11 a.m., beginning and ending just outside of the Scranton Cultural Center. Those wishing to participate in the race can register on parade day from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Lackawanna College Student Union Center. The parade, which features floats, bands, balloons, and more, begins in front of the Cathedral at 11:45 a.m.

In order to stop traffic and promote safety, Road Scholar Transport is working together with the Scranton police department, using seven of our trucks to block the main intersections into the city.

Not only that, but Road Scholar’s No. 505 Trolley Car awareness trailer will be in the parade as well! Created to help aid in the restoration of the trolley, the trailer features a full wrap around trolley car complete with passengers and a motorman named David L. Wert, Sr., which serves as a memorial to one of Road Scholar Transport’s beloved drivers who passed away in 2011 and whose father, James Wert, serves as Project 505’s chairman.

According to tradition, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade tradition dates back to 1737 in Boston “when colonists of Irish descent marked the event with a modest parade.” (1) But did you know that St. Patrick was not of Irish descent?

If you are Irish, then you probably have heard the story before. Patrick was of British descent and although born in a Christian family, did not have interest in the religion. That was until he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland where he became a slave for seven years, until one day, a voice in his dreams told him to leave. He escaped and went back to his family in Britain. But one day, that same voice from his dreams encouraged him to return to Ireland. Becoming a priest, Patrick spent his life trying to convert the Irish to the Christian religion, using the three leaves of the shamrock to symbolize the holy trinity. (2)